Rs 100 crore allocated for Godavari Pushkaralu 2015: Naidu

Rajahmundry: To organise Godavari Pushkaralu, which is held once in every 12 years, in a grandmanner in July next year, Rs 100 crore has been allocated, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here.

Godavari Pushkaralu, held once in every 12 years, is a festival of river Godavari and over 50 lakh pilgrims are expected to take dip in the holy river in July 2015.

Naidu in a review meeting with district officials on preparation of Godavari Pushkaralu 2015 here on Wednesday, said the government is taking all steps to celebrate Pushkaralu in a grand manner as compared to 2003.

"A budget of Rs 100 crore has been specially allocated for the event. If needed common good fund of temples will also be utilised," he said.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to prepare a contingency plan on the event and take up renovation and development work of temples, including Maddi Hanuman temple, Draksharamam, Samarlkota, Annavaram temples.

Naidu said over 60 lakh devotees are expected to throng Rajahmundry from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other parts of the country.

Steps are being taken to develop Rajahmundry city as a beautiful city before Pushkaralu commences, he added. Naidu informed that the work of erecting statue of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N T Rama Rao in river Godavari is also on. If the Polavaram project is completed, areas on the banks of river Godavari will be developed as tourist spots, he added.

State Endowment Commissioner Y V Anuradha said that developmental works worth Rs 23.237 crore have been proposed for Pushkaralu. Of the total budget, Rs 7.50 crore has been allocated for modernisation and renovation of temples, resting rooms and other related works.